History

It is believed that St. Michael’s Church was founded by St. Senan around 530AD. He dedicated this church to St. Michael. For centuries it became a place of pilgrimage to St. Michael, especially in September as his feast day is on September 29. In 1937 the Curate of the parish Fr. Patrick O’Reilly, organised the improvement of the well and the surrounding area. The well is now enclosed and over this building is the Statue of St. Michael enclosed in glass.
Tradition credits the founding of a church here to St. Senan in honour of Michael the Archangel. During the reign of Pope Gelasius I (AD 492-496) an apparition of the Archangel was reported to have taken place on the summit of Mt. Garganus in Apulia in Italy. This apparition report and the founding of the church in Kilmihil both took place during St. Senan’s lifetime (488 – 554 AD). After visiting Rome about 530 AD, he returned to Ireland wishing to foster devotion to Michael. While travelling from Scattery Island to Doolough he stopped in Kilmihil where he founded the church.